Jannik Sinner gave Albert Ramos no option in his first match of the season on clay Against a rival, the Spanish, who had already played 12 so far this year, and with a very good balance: 9-3. Still, the 19-year-old Italian, who improves every day, made a spectacular match to win by 6-3 and 6-4 and will face this Wednesday (around 1:00 p.m., Movistar Deportes) in the Monte Carlo Masters 1,000 to the world number one, Novak Djokovic. It will be a real threat to the debut of the Serbian in the tournament.
Ramos, finalist in Córdoba and semifinalist in Buenos Aires and Marbella, just a few days ago, started with a hopeful 2-0, but then a devastating 8-1 partial fell with which he lost the first set and started the second with a break against. “There is no way,” said the Catalan, who played well, but could not overwhelm Sinner enough, who responded very well to his wrapped and heavy drives. Carlos Bernardes judged him in the chair, already recovered from the health problems that affected him during the Australian Open.
The serve did not accompany Albert, who played with few firsts. The latter were often punished by the transalpine. Ramos, who played the final in Monte Carlo 2017 against Nadal, did what he could and showed his face, he even had a 15-40 situation to equalize the sleeve that did not prosper. Nothing shocked Jannik, a boy who played with the poise of a veteran, serious and constant. Djokovic will have to be very careful if he does not want to be surprised by the finalist in Miami and champion in Melbourne 1, who has a 15-5 record so far this year and is the youngest top-25 (22nd) on the circuit.
Bautista does his homework before Fritz
The first stumbling block for Roberto Bautista in his reunion with clay was not easy and the Spaniard passed it with flying colors. He won 6-2, 7-5 over Taylor Fritz, an always dangerous opponent, and will be measured in the second round (third turn of track 2, around 3:00 p.m.) with another American Tommy Paul, who went through the retirement of Pedro Martínez in one of the few matches that could be completed in Monday's rainy day. Bautista dominated at will in the first set, with two breaks and without giving his opponent a single break option. In the second sleeve, the services predominated over the rest, until Roberto found a hole in Fritz's to break and close the victory with his serve. He did it, in addition, after lifting the only two break points that he had against, which at the same time were set for the American. This is called personality.
Carreño wins with discussion to Travaglia
Pablo Carreño, recently crowned champion of the first ATP 250 in Marbella, went in two sets, although with a lot of work, to the second round in Monte Carlo by beating Stefano Travaglia 7-5 and 7-6 (4), with whom he had a strong discussion at 4-4 of the second set because the Italian complained about the applause of the Gijón coach, Samuel López, at the end of a point. Carreño replied that Travaglia's girlfriend said yes when he failed and got messed up. “Do not put it in the middle. Be careful what you say,” snapped the 29-year-old tennis player and 67th in the world. Later, Carreño focused and solved the commitment to avoid greater evils in the tiebreaker. In the end, nothing happened in the greeting next to the network. Pablo, new 11th in the ranking and 12th seed of the tournament, equaled his rival's winners (24) and made four fewer unforced errors (32-36). He will face this Wednesday (third turn of track 9, around 3:00 p.m.) Karen Khachanov, who could with Laslo Djere (6-4 and 6-1).
Andújar throws the match against Popyrin
Pablo Andújar incomprehensibly missed the possibility of overcoming the first round in Monte Carlo after winning the first set 6-0 against Australian Alexei Popyrin, a rival that came from the previous one that he could have beaten if he had not collapsed in the second set and in the tiebreaker of the third (0-6, 6-2 and 7-6 (3)). After losing several chances to break the Aussie in that third set, Cuenca started the tie-break with a 3-1 and from there suffered a game blackout that led him to concede a partial 6-0 and lose the match. To make him look at it. Popyrin will now run into Pouille.
Results, table and calendar.